Into the Arms of Strangers

i just watched Into the Arms of Strangers on BBC2, a truly fantastic Oscar-winning documentary movie narrated by Dame Judi Dench about the Jewish children who fled Nazi Germany to live in Britain and Australia. Did anyone else here see it, or has anyone seen it before?

Heartbreaking it was. Especially the story of the lady who left her parents to live here, then when she was re-united with her Mum and Dad, they had no common bond - they spoke German, and after 9 years here, she spoke English. She was lucky, though - most of the kids found out their parents had been murdered by the Nazis in concentration camps.

It brings to mind visiting the Ann Frank house in Amsterdam..... it's an eerie experience, but one everybody should do. Her bedroom wall there still has the postcads of the Queen, Queen Mum and Princess Margaret that she collected and treasured. It's all preserved behind perspex now. A friend of mine just came back from Poland and visited a concentration camp whilst there, Auschwitz I think. She hasn't been able to sleep since, the experience upset her so much - she described the big room full of human hair there - all plaits and hair in ribbons that had been lopped off before the Jews were murdered, the room full of spectacles.... and the maze that leads to the gas chambers.

Apparently in Germany these days, young offenders are punished by making them clean the old gas chambers. I think this is a good thing.... people must never, ever forget what happened then.

What a great movie this is, though. Deserving of that 2000 Oscar.